Local colleges boost security

A&M campuses, Del Mar react to Virginia shooting

Local universities and colleges stepped up security Monday in response
to the campus shooting at Virginia Tech that killed at least 33 people.

Officials with the university police department at Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi called in extra officers to be a visible
security presence for the more than 8,000 students, said university
spokesman Marshal Collins.

Sixteen officers work at the A&M-Corpus Christi Police
Department in three shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Typically three to five officers patrol the campus per shift. Monday
two officers were added.

Sgt. Ray Casares said officers patrol the campus on foot, on bikes
and in patrol cars. Officers emphasize security patrols at student
housing, where students must have a magnetized identification card to
enter.

Casares said students should report any suspicious behavior on
campus to the university police department.

The police department at Texas A&M University-Kingsville didn't
add security, but officers were encouraged to be more vigilant,
university officials said.

A&M-Kingsville Police Department Lt. Salvador Franco said the 13
officers on the force walk through the campus, which is attended by
6,320 students. Each shift has three to five officers patrolling.

Del Mar College also increased security efforts Monday. Officials
said they expected to keep on guard through the next week.

Kelly White, Del Mar College director of environmental, health,
safety and risk management, said that as soon as he heard of the
incident he contacted all security officials and college administrators
to advise them to be aware of any suspect behavior.

The college has 22 security officers and security cameras across its
campuses, attended by more than 11,000.

Both universities and Del Mar have emergency phones set up
throughout campus so students can call police quickly.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, A&M-Kingsville
President Rumaldo Juarez said protecting students is an important role
for all education institutions.

"The tragedy that occurred today must not be allowed to be
repeated," Juarez said. "The physical safety of our nation's most
precious assets - our students - must always be paramount to those of
us that are charged with their education."

Memorials for victims

Texas A&M University-Kingsville's Student Government
Association will have a memorial at 7:45 p.m. in front of the student
union.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Student Government
Association will have a memorial service for 12:30 p.m. Friday at the
university's Hector P. Garcia Plaza.